Manchester United star Luke Shaw recently spoke out on the club's decision to banish a number of players from the first-team squad, and Rio Ferdinand has now had his say
Rio Ferdinand gestures with his hands on his podcast
Luke Shaw's contentious comments about the Man United dressing room prompted a response from club legend Rio Ferdinand
(Image: YouTube/Rio Ferdinand Presents)
Club legend Rio Ferdinand believes Luke Shaw's remarks on Manchester United eliminating "stragglers" from their ranks is a testament to Ruben Amorim's positive influence.
Amorim, 40, has adopted a firm stance with the United squad during his first summer in charge at Old Trafford. One of his initial moves was to ostracise the so-called 'Bomb Squad', which included Jadon Sancho, Antony, Tyrell Malacia, Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford.
Rashford has since been loaned out to Barcelona, while the remaining four were excluded from United's pre-season tour of the United States and instructed to train away from the main group.
Last season saw Sancho, Antony and Rashford loaned out to Chelsea, Real Betis, and Aston Villa, respectively. Garnacho was told to seek a new club after he openly criticised Amorim when dropped for United's defeat to Tottenham in the Europa League final.
United have since signed Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo in deals that have been received well by fans. And Shaw has commended Amorim's stringent approach for successfully weeding out the "stragglers" who were impeding the team's progress.
Speaking on his Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast (via The Mirror), the former United skipper responded to Shaw's comments: "It was quite a damning statement, wasn't it? When I heard that, I was like, 'I wonder what the next meet-up is going to be like if he sees any of those guys.'
"I think I'd have had something to say about that if I thought it was about me. Then you go, 'Maybe they don't say anything, because they might think and know it is true.' But there's a confidence in there with him that goes, 'You know what? They know that I know what went wrong. So I can say this with my chest.'
Luke Shaw speaking to reporters at Manchester United's pre-season training camp in the USA
Shaw let his thoughts be known(Image: YouTube/Sky Sports Premier League)
"That's what it feels like. Also, the environment he is feeling now would have to be a positive one for him to come out and speak like that."
When questioned directly about Shaw's position at Old Trafford and whether he was alluding to the previously mentioned quartet, Ferdinand, who has also lauded Harry Maguire's resurgence under Amorim, added: "His stature within the squad, I noticed it while I was on tour. He has a very strong stature within the squad. He's been there, I think, over 10 years now.
"He has seen it all there. All the bad times, he's seen it. He is one of the most experienced and most Manchester United players within that squad. So, I don't think he has any qualms coming out like that.
"I think you have to have seen enough to be able to go and talk like that. So I think it's a strong statement. I don't think there's any two that he's directed at those four players, because they are the ones sitting on the outside."
Antony of Manchester United celebrates goal 2-1 with Alejandro Garnacho of Manchester United, Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United during the UEFA Europa League match between Manchester United v FC Barcelona
Both Alejandro Garnacho and Antony look destined to leave United this summer
The previous campaign proved to be a sobering experience for the Red Devils. They concluded in 15th position, their lowest finish in the Premier League era, managing just 42 points and 44 goals.
Their final opportunity for salvation in the Europa League final also ended in disappointment as they succumbed to Spurs in uninspiring fashion. However, things are looking up somewhat following their results in the Premier League Summer Series during their tour of the US.
Naturally, the true test will be their performance at the start of the new season. Their initial fixtures are daunting, with home games against Arsenal, Burnley and Chelsea, as well as away matches at Fulham, Manchester City and Brentford in the first couple of months of the campaign.